7/29/2023 0 Comments Pineapple sage![]() A number of cultivars exist that may have more attractive or interesting foliage, which adds to summer interest. It can be added as a specimen plant or in small groups to amplify its effect. Pineapple sage works well as large and quick growing annual intermixed in perennial beds or herb gardens. Its fine-textured foliage and more open habit give it a lighter and less dense appearance than other landscape plants that support a similar number of blooms. So, this fast-growing annual can reach significant heights in a single growing season, with a similar spread. The plants I observed this week were about 3 feet tall and were planted in early summer. In the landscape, it prefers a similar setting with full sun and well-drained soils. In its native range it commonly occurs as clumps or large groups in sunny woodland edges across the Sierra Madre mountains at elevations above 6,000 feet. As such, it is only hardy to Zone 8, making it an annual plant here in central Illinois (Zone 5b). Pineapple sage is not native, hailing from the much warmer climates of Mexico and Guatemala. ![]() ![]() So, it was neat for me to see this plant in bloom and connect the wonderful, aromatic leaves with its awesome inflorescences to realize its true value in the landscape. I spent a few minutes examining the fine textured leaves and experiencing their pineapple scent but didn’t think much of it at the time. That was in early summer, when foliage abounds, but flowers are absent. I have always read about pineapple sage as a pollinator plant, which caused me to take note when I ran across it at a Missouri Botanical Garden a few years ago. Whorls of the tiny flowers filled the spiky stalks that jutted out in all directions, creating a display that no human or pollinator could miss.Īfter asking, I learned this plant was pineapple sage ( Salvia elegans), named for its aromatic foliage with a scent very close to pineapple when crushed. It was filled with abundant red blooms that almost glowed against the backdrop of green leaves behind it. They can be sugared and used to garnish cakes or cookie platters.Earlier this week, I was visiting a neighbor and noticed an eye-catching plant in rare form for this time of year. They are particularly attractive with yellow or green bell pepper. The flowers are reminiscent of Honeysuckle and make a colorful addition to salads, fruit cocktails or any garnish. Pineapple Sage does have a pineappley fragrance, and a fresh edible flower. Its profuse bright red tubular flowers and its attraction to hummingbirds are reason enough to plant this late season bloomer. Pineapple Sage should be called Hummingbird Highway. Uses: Fresh, dried or cooked to flavor or garnish. ![]() It is native to the Mediterranean region and commonly grown as a kitchen and medicinal herb or as an ornamental garden plant.ĭense, uniform, ornamental plants. It is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae. A small perennial evergreen subshrub, with woody stems, colorful leaves, and blue to purplish flowers. ![]()
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